An Electronic Publication of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Inside this edition, you’ll discover the latest Chamber initiatives and success stories from across our region. From economic development projects and upcoming networking events to policy updates and workforce training opportunities, we’re keeping you connected to what matters most for your business and North Central Massachusetts.
June 2026
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The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is here to help – with trusted resources, a strong business network, and a support system to keep your business and the region moving forward
If you’re involved in the real estate market as an investor, agent, buyer, or seller, you likely already know that this is one industry that’s in love with the latest technologies. From the latest apps to innovations in customer service, tech innovations have dramatically changed how Realtors do business.
Here’s our picks for the top 7 tech trends for real estate agents in our community:
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality, or VR, gives agents the power to create virtual tours of the properties they have for sale, giving prospective buyers an immersive experience that’s second only to being there in person.
While VR technology is still a bit pricey for the average Realtor, experts predict this growing tech trend will be worth $2.6B by 2025. Sotheby’s International Realty already uses VR to market high-end residential properties both here in the United States and abroad.
Augmented Reality
We all know that prospective home buyers want to picture what their furniture would look like in their new home, right? Thanks to Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, you can now superimpose a specific piece of furniture, a fixture, or accessory into any room, making it easy to see what a space could look like with some personal touches.
Smart Home Technologies
With the wide-spread adoption of ‘smart’, internet-connected devices like smart thermostats, smart alarms, and smart locks, look for old technologies like real estate lock boxes to disappear in favor of digital access codes and security apps.
Drones give Realtors the power to take impressive high-definition photos and videos from heights of properties that are available for sale or lease. Look for more listings to include images that deliver a birds-eye view that was previously only available by hiring a specialized aerial photographer.
Social Media Engagement
Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram provide real estate agents with powerful tools they can use to market their business, connect with clients, and establish themselves as a local subject matter expert in our community.
And if you think managing all those online accounts is simply too time consuming, social media management platforms like Hootsuite y Agorapulse are designed to automate content delivery, track mentions and shares, and stamp out online trolls.
Chat Bots
Even the most energetic real estate agent needs to take a break – that’s why chat bots – those little pop-up boxes are quickly become a feature on many brokerage websites.
Also known as virtual assistants, chat bots provide personable, 24/7 customer service that can help capture leads and even answer basic questions – perfect for all those late-night online home shoppers.
They say hindsight is 20-20. If you only would have known. As a business owner, you may already have a few things you wish you knew. Would you have hired that one person? Perhaps you would have started your company sooner. While it is important to look back, reflect and learn from these decisions, it is also important to realize that, when you are at the end of your business ownership, your wishes may be much different.
What Do Owners Reflect On?
There are many things business owners wish they would have done differently. Here are some common themes that seem to come to light.
Getting Help Sooner
Many business owners start out with a desire to build a company from the ground up on their own. It may be admirable, but it may not be exactly what helped your business to thrive. Instead, many business owners realize that if they could do it again that they would have hired on more help sooner. Some would have turned to a mentor sooner. They would have networked with other business owners more readily to pull them into their company.
They Would Have Done More Locally
It goes without saying that every business relies on its community to grow and thrive. Even online companies still need to hire from a local talent pool and build their business with the support of local suppliers. But, not all companies give back. Giving back to the community does not have to be a challenge – doing simple things on a routine basis can help to make a big difference in the community. You don’t want to be on your deathbed and wishing you would have done more.
Getting Rid of the Problems
It’s quite common for businesses, especially those starting out and looking for solid footing, to actually make the move to get rid of employees that do not fit the mold. However, we know today from our workplace culture that it’s important to create a sense of culture, respect, and dependability. Some business wonders wish they would have taken a problem employee into the office and let them go long before they did damage.
The Risk Question
Many business owners wonder about risk. For some, taking on too much risk is just too much of a worry. For others, it is all about not taking enough. When you are there, at the end of your life, you’ll want to have taken that risk and experienced perhaps not only the thrill of the ride but also the struggles.
As you work to build your business, reach out. Embrace the community. Support each other. Provide mentorship opportunities. By taking these steps, you can solidify your business model now and learn from the mistakes and wishes of those business owners that came before you. It may be exactly what you need to push your business forward that extra level.
Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito announced today changes to various advisories and executive orders pertaining to COVID-19 and reopening:
1.Stay at Home Advisory Rescinded: Effective Monday, January 25ta at 5:00am, the DPH Stay at Home Advisory for the hours of 10pm – 5am is rescinded.
2.Early Closure of Businesses Order Rescinded: Effective Monday, January 25ta at 5:00am, the Mandatory Early Closure of Businesses Order requiring certain businesses to close by 9:30pm will be rescinded. On Monday, January 25ta at 5:00am, the following businesses and activities listed below may operate past 9:30pm:
*Liquor stores and other retail establishments that sell alcohol may sell alcohol past 9:30pm; adult use cannabis retailers may also sell cannabis after 9:30pm
3.Temporary Capacity and Gathering Limits Extended: The 25% temporary capacity and gathering limits remain in place until 5:00 AM on Monday February 8ta.
Join us for Connect North Central
Friday, November 20, 2026
8am-9am View
Event
Joint Mayor's Meeting
December 4, 2026
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
Future Leaders of North Central: Annual Holiday Party & Ugly Sweater Competition
December 8, 2026
Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Rd. Shirly, MA View
Event
Chamber members are provided with the opportunity to engage with the Mayors of Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster who provide updates on projects and other things happening in their Cities. These events are by invitation only, please contact Travis Condon for more details. View
Event
First batch of hand sanitizer produced in Revolutionary Clinics’ Fitchburg-based cultivation facility to be delivered Monday
FITCHBURG, March 27, 2020 — Revolutionary Clinics, one of the state’s leading providers of medical marijuana, has begun producing hand sanitizer at its cultivation facility in Fitchburg to be donated free of charge to Massachusetts hospitals with the initial batch of 35 gallons to be donated Monday, March 30. Regular cannabis operations will continue alongside and separately from the hand sanitizer production. This initiative is being carried out to support local health care clinicians’ ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is key component of a broader hand sanitizer partnership between the Commonwealth Dispensary Association (CDA), of which Revolutionary Clinics is a member, and the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA).
“I am proud of a Fitchburg-based operation making a pivot from its usual activities to support the fight against COVID-19. Revolutionary Clinics is a prime example of how businesses can leverage their resources to help our communities tackle this pandemic together,” said Stephen L. DiNatale, Mayor of Fitchburg. “Efforts like this demonstrate the potential for good that exists when all members of the community band together to face these historic challenges.”
The COVID-19 outbreak has created a shortage in the availability of medical supplies, including hand sanitizer. While the production of hand sanitizer is not overly sophisticated, the materials involved are expensive and it requires specialized equipment. Given the distillation processes that regularly happen at cannabis cultivation facilities, these operations are well-suited to produce hand sanitizer. A public health emergency order issued by Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH, on March 23rd officially granted cannabis operators the authority to produce hand sanitizer for clinicians and health facilities. On March 30ta, Revolutionary Clinics will deliver its initial batch of 35 gallons of hand sanitizer to be distributed to local hospitals. The next round, 80-90 gallons, will be ready for delivery by the end of the week.
“In a very difficult time for people across the globe, we felt it was incumbent upon us to step up and use our infrastructure and our know-how to support those who are on the front lines of fighting this pandemic, our health care workers,” said Keith Cooper, CEO of Revolutionary Clinics. “I am extremely proud of our employees who have enthusiastically embraced this project in addition to our continued mission of serving our medical patients and I would also like to give credit to my fellow CDA Board Member, John Hillier of Central Ave. Compassionate Care and Gage Cannabis for bringing this initiative to our attention. The cannabis community is passionate about doing good in our neighborhood and we are always looking for opportunities to do so.”
The production of hand sanitizer at Revolutionary Clinics’ Fitchburg-based cultivation facility is being carried out by Lab Team members Stephen Golden, Danielle Desmond, David Nunes, Ryan Corrazini and Evan Lambert under the supervision of lab manager and Vice President of Product Dan Gillan using protocols and standard operating procedures provided by members of MHA. Gillan estimates that the facility can produce upwards of 200 gallons of hand sanitizer per week that can be fully donated to hospitals. To facilitate the production, Revolutionary Clinics applied the World Health Organization’s guidelines to its cannabis machinery and will fill five gallon jugs so that the hand sanitizer can be transported for use in hospitals. All ingredients were sourced and paid for by Revolutionary Clinics. Hand sanitizer inventory will be transported to Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for distribution to individual hospitals.
“Recognizing the massive and immediate demand for medical supplies, the biggest challenge for us was getting set up to start producing as quickly as possible so that we could get hand sanitizer to hospitals,” said Dan Gillan, Vice President of Product at Revolutionary Clinics. “Securing the necessary raw ingredients required a couple of days and a couple hundred phone calls to suppliers. After accumulating what was needed, we converted our ethanol extraction laboratory from cannabis extraction to hand sanitizer production and created a sanitary work environment. Since our standard operational needs for cannabis extraction meant that we already had about 90 percent of what it took to produce hand sanitizer, it was a no brainer for us to take on this effort once we were given the go-ahead. The entire team is excited and humbled by the ability to step up and do this for our health care system during such a critical time.”
Earlier this month, Revolutionary Clinics announced that it will donate two percent of all sales through April 20 to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund which was activated to support residents in Cambridge affected by COVID-19. Revolutionary Clinics currently operates three locations in Somerville and Cambridge and has served Massachusetts medical marijuana patients since 2017 and supports the arts and a host of local charities through its corporate social responsibility program, Cannabis with a Conscience.
About Revolutionary Clinics
Revolutionary Clinics is harnessing the positive power of the emerging cannabis industry to raise the standard for alternative care and generate economic opportunity across Massachusetts. At its three registered marijuana dispensaries in Cambridge and Somerville, Revolutionary Clinics provides the highest quality medical marijuana products and the very best in patient care, and was named best medical dispensary in the state by its peers in 2019. Its state-of-the-art cultivation facility in Fitchburg, Mass. is the largest in the state and supplies over 25 retail establishments with sought-after products and flower. Revolutionary Clinics employs more than 170 colleagues across its manufacturing and retail operations and generated tens of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for Massachusetts’ communities in 2019. Through its corporate social responsibility program, Cannabis with a Conscience, Revolutionary Clinics joins with a range of partners in supporting healthy lives and vulnerable populations, advancing community revitalization efforts through philanthropy and public-private partnerships, and promoting diversity within the cannabis industry. Learn more at RevolutionaryClinics.org.
Princeton, MA, March 26, 2020 – To celebrate the release of its new coloring and activity book, Let’s Go with NEADS Service Dogs Arnie and Zara, NEADS will be donating 1 copy for every book purchased to Franciscan Children’s Hospital (up to 200 copies). Written and designed by Lori Barrett, NEADS Creative Media Specialist, this fun and educational “A to Z” activity/coloring book is centered around words and phrases related to Service Dogs and is ideal for children ages 4-10. Let’s Go can be purchased online through the NEADS Shop.
NEADS anticipates great community support for this initiative and will make an advance delivery of books next week.
“While our day-to-day focus is making sure NEADS dogs and staff continue to be safe and healthy, NEADS wanted to do something to bring joy in these uncertain times,” says Cathy Zemaitis, NEADS Director of Development. “We realize that having children at home unexpectedly can be challenging, and we hope Let’s Go will be a welcome diversion. And people who buy the books can feel good that they’re also helping children in need. NEADS Assistance Dog Marcus works at Franciscan Children’s, so the hospital was a logical partner.”
“Like other hospitals, we’ve had to put strict visitor policies in place due to COVID-19,” says Matthew Lynch, Communications Specialist, Franciscan Children’s. “This will certainly help bring a light to our patients’ lives when they may be receiving fewer visitors than normal, and for that we are so grateful.”
About NEADS Inc.
NEADS Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Princeton, Massachusetts. Established in 1976, NEADS offers the widest array of Service Dog programs in the industry, including Service Dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, Service Dogs for veterans, Service Dogs for Hearing, and Service Dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. NEADS dogs are also partnered with professionals in classroom, therapy, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. For more information, please visit neads.org.
About Franciscan Children’s
Since 1949, Franciscan Children’s has served children and adolescents with complex medical, mental health, and special educational needs. As the largest provider of pediatric mental healthcare in Massachusetts and the only solely pediatric post-acute hospital in New England, we are a critical link in the region’s healthcare system.
We want the surrounding communities of Fitchburg to know that Watkin Dental Associates is open for Emergency Care.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency please take the following steps:
Call our office 978-345-6919
We will have you speak with one of our administrative staff and a Doctor if necessary.
Our Doctors will determine what are the appropriate needs based on your call.
Our office is located at:
26 Whalon St.
Fitchburg, MA 01420
At this time we are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8am – 12pm noon.
Miembro Destacado
Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody
When the workday ends and the lights go down, Custom Cleaning Service of Peabody, Inc. gets to work. “We operate as our clients’ silent partner after business hours,” says Adam Paicos, of Templeton, who now serves as Director of Operations and oversees the company’s expansion into North Central MA. “We are not often seen, but we ensure facilities are clean, secure, and ready for business each day while serving as the eyes and ears for our clients when they are not on site.”
Discover local business stories through our Inside North Central Massachusetts Podcast series. Listen as Chamber members share their journeys, insights, and contributions to our thriving regional business community.
From Chamber events and ribbon cuttings to community celebrations and regional highlights, stay connected with what’s happening across North Central Massachusetts. Follow us on social media for the latest photos, updates, and stories.
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